French Explorers in Illinois History: The Heartland Adventure

1. Illinois History The Heartland Part I First Explorers through The British Arrive

2. Louis Jolliet & Jacques Marquette • The first white men to make a written record of Illinois • Marquette was a Jesuit priest & able to speak 6 Indian languages • Jolliet was a 27 year old surveyor

5. Bad Map-Wrong Information

6. Samuel de Champlain • Est. the first French colony in 1608, called Quebec

7. The Northwest Passage • Europeans were consumed with finding a water route to the Pacific. • Wanted to reach India for the gold, silks, & spices.

8. Marquette & Jolliet • May 17, 1673, they left out from the mission at St. Ignace • Canoes • They made it to the Miss. River • Turned around at the Arkansas River

10. St. Ignace

11. Wisconsin River

12. River Routes in Illinois

13. Returning Home • They spotted the Piasa Bird painted on a bluff near Alton, IL. • Made friends w/ the Kaskaskia Indians • Father Marquette returned in 1675 to have Easter services w/ the Kaskaskians. • Marquette later died at the age of 37 near Ludington, MI.

14. The Piasa Bird

15. Jolliet • His canoe flipped near Montreal & he lost all of his records on IL. • Marquette’s were the only ones left from the trip.

16. Frenchmen, Forts, & Failures

17. Rene-Robert Cavalier sieur de LaSalle • We’ll just call him LaSalle • Born in France • Spent a short time as a farmer • Started exploring at 23

18. Henry Tonti • LaSalle’s partner • Iron Hand • Battle in Italy • In charge of Fort Crevecoeur • Broken Heart • LaSalle left to get ship building materials

19. Broken Heart • LaSalle traveled 1,000 miles to Canada in 65 days. • Fort Frontenac on the North shore of Lake Ontario.

21. Broken Heart • Mutiny against Tonti • Fort destroyed

22. The Founding of Louisiana • LaSalle found Tonti living w/ the Illini Indians • Under attack by the Iroquois • Traveled down the Miss. River • The first European to see the mouth of the MS. River • Named the land after the King of France – Louisiana

23. The Rock • No not Alcatraz • LaSalle & Tonti return to IL & build a fort on Starved Rock • Fort St. Louis • To be the capital of LaSalle’s French empire • France closed all forts in IL except Ft. St. Louis • LaSalle went in 1683 to change their minds

24. French Colony • LaSalle convinced the French to Est. a colony in Louisiana. • The colonists landed in Texas & could not find the Miss. R. • The colonists murdered LaSalle while looking for the Miss. R. • 43 years old

25. Tonti’s Search • Some colonists made it to Starved Rock & told Tonti of LaSalle’s death. • Tonti tried to find his friend but was unsuccessful. • Returned to Ft. St. Louis.

26. Fort Pimitoui • Tonti built Ft. Pimitoui near Peoria in 1692. • Tonti’s trade was revoked by France • Moved to Biloxi, MS. • Died in Mobile, AL of Yellow Fever in September of 1704

27. French Villages in Illinois

28. French Villages in IL • The oldest interior settlement in the U.S. is Cahokia. • The first permanent settlement in IL is Cahokia. • Kaskaskia was settled in 1703 & a major commercial center. • Both were Est. by Jesuit Priests

29. The Mississippi Bubble • 1714, John Law wanted to start a colony in IL. • Failed by 1720

30. Fort de Chartres • Slaves were brought to IL to work in the mines. • Galena & St. Genevieve, MO • The fort was originally constructed of logs & later rebuilt w/ stones. • Located 15 miles North of Kaskaskia • Strongest French military fort in the West

31. Prairie du Rocher • Built near Fort de Chartres • The 3rd most important village in IL • Agriculture under the French became a lucrative business. • Sent down the Miss. R. on barges

32. The British Arrive

34. French & Indian War • 1750 French troops move into the Ohio River Valley • Lt. Gov. Robert Swindle of VA sent a 21 year old militia leader to order the French to leave. • French intend to hold the area. • 2nd group of VA militia go to the fork and build a small fort.

38. French & Indian War • April 1754, the young militia leader is sent into the ORV with 150 men. • Encounter a small squad of FR. troops • Attack & retreat to build a small fort

39. Over 600 Fr. Troops and 100 Am. Ind. Attack the small fort.

40. The VA. Militia surrender and are sent back to Williamsburg on July 4, 1754.

42. Attack on Ft. Duquesne/Braddock’s Death • General Braddock's last words to Washington - "Next time, we shall know how to fight them.“ • Geo. Washington led the British troops out of the fight and to safety.

43. Washington had 2 horses shot from under him & 4 bullet holes in his coat.

44. The French & Indian War • Fighting between France & Great Britain (1754 – 1763) • Also called the 7 Years War in Europe • British won on both fronts • 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the war • France lost all of its territory east of the Miss. R.

46. Following the Treaty of Paris 1763

48. Pontiac’s Resistance • Pontiac led Indians against the British & prevented them from occupying IL for 2 years. • 1765, Pontiac makes peace w/ the British.

49. Captain Thomas Stirling • The Black Watch Regiment take control of Fort de Chartres on Oct. 10, 1765. • The Fleur-de-lis was lowered & the British Union Jack was raised.

50. Leaving The West • By the 1770’s the British started sending troops east to deal w/ the colonists.